Answer: Hi there, unfortunately that’s very true. When in Myanmar, they will check your USD / Euros with magnifying glaases, and tend to offer you lesser exchange rates for those “imperfect” notes, many times, they will even reject exchanging those, leaving you with lesser than expected budget for the trip!

So please do inform your bank ahead that you want new notes for your travel, this can be done a few weeks before your departure. (however that’s only viable if you are from the USA)

Here are some other travellers’ experiences with exchanging the USD

Now I’m back from Myanmar and can give my experiences. Nobody said anything about printing ink on my bills. Only time when they refused to change my 100USD bill was in Yangon airport because my note had AB series. I don’t know why it was a problem for them.But as only 200USD was changed per person I gave them another one with different series and with AB note just paid my travel agent bill later. In Yangon airport I saw that some people had folded notes and that wasn’t problem at all. At the same time in Mandaly airport they refused to take note with tiny color spot.

Yes, it could be a problem in a bank. We took USD2500 in brand new notes and three of the USD100 were refused because they had a small water stain in one corner (where the teller had used a wet sponge to count out the bills). You should still be able to offload slightly soiled bills at hotels – pay your final bill with them and tell them it’s all you have – they want the money! At the end of our trip I was asked by other travellers to change their dodgy notes for our left-over pristine ones = not a problem, our bank here in New Zealand has changed them all back to NZ dollars.

I brought about thirty 100 Dollar bills and went to the official money changers offices in Yangon at Thein Pyu Road. about half got rejected. I also brought Euro bills. 1 got rejected because the Euro flag had a small printing error. A miniscule line of a fraction of 1 millimeter had no ink. I needed a magnifiction glass to see it.

We took the best quality $US bills that I could find after trips to 3 Canadian banks. As we arrived in Yangon before the bank exchange at the airport opened, our guide took us to a bank. The woman barely glanced at the bills before giving us our crispy new 5000s. At a travel agency in Mandalay, the woman just ran the bills through a machine. No problem. We got fairly new 1000s. At a Mandalay bank there was a brief look at the bills but, again, no problem and all new 5000s.

We are 7 malaysians on a tour to Yangon-Bagan-Mandalay-Inle Lake for 6 days by Exoticmyanmar tours and Travels on-line agency from 14 to 19 January,2012. .We didn’t know that they are are so particular about the condition of the USD ; and also credit cards cannot be used .So , we had to settle @ a lower exchange rate @ 1 usd to 770 kyats for our less ” crisp and unsoiled usd notes. The money exchange bureau in the Yangon airport give a better exchange rate .

Answer: At this point in time, definitely NOT possible unless in very special cases. You will require a get a special permit, and probably have escorts (i actually met a cyclist who said he did that!). Your best option, is still to fly in and out of Myanmar.

What is the average entrance fees to sights in Myanmar and can i pay in USD or it is a must to use the local currency Kyats?

Answer

PKTan: Most of the entrance fees to sights must be paid in USD.
For Yangon : Shwedagon Pagoda USD 5, Botataung Pagoda USD 2, Sule USD 2, National Museum USD 5.

Mandalay : Zone fees USD 10, Amarapura, Sagaing, In-wa, Mingun for all 3

Bagan : Zone Fees USD 10, Archaeological Museum USD 5

Pindaya : USD 3, Inle Lake : USD 5, Bago USD 10, Golden Rock USD 6

Is it difficult to get a taxi from the airport to the hotels in Inle lake? My hotel is trying to charge me USD 68 one way from the airport! and how much time will it take from the airport? Please help!

Answer

PKTan: The boat transfer should cost around 8000-9000 Kyats (~10 USD) and it is relatively easy to find a taxi on your arrival at Heho and will cost you about 36 USD for Saloon Car.
Airport to boat jetty is around 45 minutes and then boat jetty to Paramount Inle is another 45 minutes. Most of the lake hotels , you have to go at least 30 minutes to 1 hr drive.

Only having very limited days in Burma, and wish to avoid the time spent on bus! Does anyone know how much flights from Yangon to Bagan return are?

Answer

PKTan: The prices varies a little, but for a return air ticket from Yangon to Bagan
Air Bagan – 192 dollars
Air KBZ – 178 dollars
Asian Wings – 186 dollars

In Yangon, for domestic flights, use the OLD Yangon airport (the new one serves only International flights), it is located about 200m further on the road than the new Yangon International Airport building.

Estimated Price Guide for Domestic Flights -
Yangon to Mandalay: US$70
Yangon to Bagan: US$75
Bagan to Heho: US$50
Heho to Yangon: US$75
Yangon to Sittwe (Mrauk U): US$95

Update 2012 – travellers recent experience with money exchange

Currently, credit Cards are only accepted at a very few major hotels, airlines and some international shops and restaurants. We advise you to bring enough US Dollars for your travel, accommodation, shopping and dining expenses. The exchange of traveler cheques as well is very difficult and time consuming. Banks are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and all public holidays.

The amount of US Dollars you should bring will depend on your length of stay and which part of country you will be traveling. We advise that you consult with you travel agent with regards to this.

Myanmars are genuinely happy to help foreign visitors and don’t expect anything in return. But if your guide or any other person during your trip was especially kind or helpful a gratuity would be a generous gesture and greatly appreciated.

Joanna: Greetings from UK! Currently I am planning a vacation to Myanmar, however I cam very oncern with the weather situation in Myanmar, especially after Cyclone Nargis a few yreas ago. I heard that Myanmar has its monsoon season during the middle of the year. When is the exact period of the monsoon season? What other seasons exist in Myanmar and when are they occurring during the year? What is the best time to travel within Myanmar ?

Answer

PKTan: Hi Joanna, glad that you are considering Mynamar as your vacation destination, as for the after effects of Cyclone Nargis, most tourist destinations are already been done up. The monsoon season in Myanmar is between early May to late September. The best time to visit Myanmar is actually after the monsoon season around late November to February when the weather is very cooling. If you dragged till March to April, the weather can get very hot, sometimes over 40 deg celcius!

Business Man Tan: How can I apply for a business visa for Myanmar ?

Answer

PKTan: You will need to have a letter of assignment from a compnay within Myanmar which you are working for, and use it to apply for a business visa at any Myanmar embassy or consulate office.

Tyler : Hey! What can i do if i want to stay more than 28 days permitted by the tourist visa. Can i extend the visa in Myanmar and how should i do it?

Answer

PKTan: Tyler, you are right about the max 28 days stay on a single entry tourist visa. To extend your tourist visa, you will need to make a renewal OUTSIDE of Myanmar. However, you can pay a daily fine of USD 3 at the Immigration counter of the airport upon departure for each day that you’ve stayed over, this will definitely be the better alternative!